Rear Admiral Garry R. White, USN (Ret) to present the 2019 Eagle Scout Community Service Project of the Year Award

A great addition to the Oct. 9 BSA Leadership Dinner
program, Rear Admiral Garry R. White, USN (Ret) will present the 2019 Eagle
Scout Community Service Project of the Year Award at the Delta Hotels by
Marriott in Utica.

White is president of The Light Connection and leads a team
of experts to develop, manufacture, test and distribute a wide array of
advanced fiber optic cable. Prior to joining TLC, Admiral White served as president
of Excelsior Enterprises, a diverse consulting and investment firm in Boston. He
serves on a number of boards including vice chairman of Busek Incorporated, an
advanced space propulsion and systems company. He works with the chairman,
president, CEO and directors to oversee the strategy and operation of Busek’s
research, development, testing and manufacturing.

In addition to White’s service with Busek, his board service
includes the Military Officers Association of America; George Washington’s
Mount Vernon; the Northwoods Homeowners Association and the Broward County Navy
Days.

White was commissioned a naval officer and subsequently
designated a naval aviator, qualified flying the A-4 Skyhawk, A7E Corsair and
F/A-18 Hornet. After attending the Navy Fighter Weapons School TOPGUN, he was
designated an adversary instructor. In 1989, White was selected to be officer-in-charge
of the VFA-125 Detachment in Fallon, Nev., and took charge of the Desert
Raiders in July 1989.

In February 1991, White was chosen as aide to commander in chief,
Allied Forces Southern Europe/U.S. Naval Forces Europe and served in the NATO
headquarters, Naples, Italy, and the U.S. Navy Headquarters in London, England.
During this tour, he was selected for Operational Command and after undergoing
F/A-18 refresher training, reported to the Stingers of Strike Fighter Squadron
113 in July 1993 and assumed command Aug. 25, 1994. While flying operationally,
he deployed on USS America, USS Ranger, USS Kitty Hawk, USS Nimitz and USS Carl
Vinson.

White relinquished command of the Stingers Oct. 26, 1995,
and was assigned to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., under the chief of Naval
Operations, Commander in Chief Liaison Division, OPNAV N-83.

In January 1997, White commenced nuclear power training and
in November 1998 was assigned as executive officer of USS George Washington.
While deployed from June to October 2000 in the Arabian Gulf/Mediterranean Sea,
the George Washington was involved in Operation Southern Watch and combat operations
against Iraq. Upon detaching from George Washington, White reported to USS Arctic
in November 2000 as commanding officer.

In April 2001, Arctic deployed to the Mediterranean/North
Seas and Arabian Gulf as part of the Enterprise Battle Group. Under White’s
Command, Arctic provided logistics support for the Second/Sixth/Fifth fleets in
addition to leading Maritime Intercept Operations, boarding and towing United
Nations sanction-violating vessels and providing armed escort for other U.S.
Vessels.
On Sept. 11 2001, Arctic was the first warship on station in the Northern
Indian Ocean and part of the initial response to the terrorist attack and
Operation Enduring Freedom. After relinquishing Command June 14, 2002, White
served as chief of staff for Second Fleet/Striking Fleet Atlantic from July
2002 to February 2004. He was selected for CVN Command in October 2002, and
took Command of USS George Washington Sept. 30, 2004, leading Fleet Response
Plan sustainment operations, a “Partnership of the Americas” deployment to
Southern Command and dry-docking phased incremental availabilities.

Relinquishing Command Dec. 14, 2006, White reported to
Washington, D.C., where he served on the OPNAV staff as director, total force manpower
requirements and special assistant to the chief of naval operations for
comprehensive casualty care. On Feb. 6, 2009, White returned as Commander of
Strike Force Training Atlantic where he oversaw the training, assessment and
certification of USN/USMC forces, until he transitioned to the civilian sector
in October 2010.

The following four
district finalists for the 2019 Eagle Scout Community Service Project of the
Year Award represent approximately 70 new Eagle Scouts to achieve BSA’s highest
rank over the last year – a group that gave more than 12,000 community service
hours to the cities, towns and villages across the eight-county Leatherstocking
Council:

Mr. Rudy Bohm out of Troop 1254 in Cooperstown

Deerslayer District Finalist

Bohm removed brush, trees and debris from the miniature
railroad line which surrounded a circular wetland of approximately 1,200’- they
replaced old rotted railroad ties with pressure treated tow-fours. This project
was done with a lot of support and enthusiasm from the Leatherstocking Railway
Historical Society in Milford

Tim Goff out of Troop 14 in New Hartford

Adirondack Foothills District

Goff built a 24’ span bridge across St. Mary’s Creek at the
Clinton High School in Clinton so that people could park in the school parking
lot and walk over the creek, instead of around or through the creek, to the
softball fields.

Wyatt Jones out of Troop 175 in Remsen

Powderhorn District Finalist

Jones took on the revitalization of the existing nature
trail behind Remsen Elementary School. He also modified the nature trail in
order to create a new, separate part of the trail for cross country use.

Michael Salvestrini out of Troop 74 in Hancock

Foothills District Finalist

Salvestrini installed new signage and replaced old wooden
sign posts with metal posts and concrete pads in the town of Hancock’s town
square. This made the park more beautiful and in the long-run will save the
town money previously spent on replacement costs.

BSA officials will also present the Leatherstocking
Council’s annual BSA Community Leadership Awards to Larry Bull, president and
CEO of Bull Bros., Inc., and co-founder of Fastrac Markets; and to Randall
VanWagoner, president of Mohawk Valley Community College since July 1, 2007.
Keynote address on leadership will be delivered by Alicia Dicks, president/CEO
of The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties.

The BSA Community Leadership Award is presented to those who
exemplify in their daily lives the ideals of the Boy Scouts of America as
expressed in the Scout Oath and Law. The recipients are chosen for their
outstanding community service as evidenced by the interest and leadership given
to many worthwhile organizations as well as the respect and esteem in which
they are held by their colleagues.